November 12-14, 1982: Charlie's (Country & Western Bar) in Denver, CO hosted the "First National Gay Square Dance Exhibition" with caller Dave "Happy" New Year. Seven gay clubs throughout the country were invited to attend a weekend of square dancing and workshops. Only five out-of-town dancers showed up, all from San Francisco (Alan Hall, Paul Zimmerman, Jack Kendrick, Russ King, and Scott Carey). This constituted the first "fly-in" although that terminology had not yet come into play.

May 1, 1983: Art Smith awarded the first Golden Boot Award for his outstanding contribution to gay square dancing by having started the first gay square dance club in Seattle and the gay square dance movement in the Northwest.

June 4, 1983: Mile High Squares square danced at the 1st Annual Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo as part of the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association.